• Band / Artist : The Wannabe Hasbeens – mySpace
• Genre : Pop / Rock
• Sample Track Download : Gimme Substance
• Buy CD : CD Baby
• Buy Digital Download : CD Baby – iTunes
• Rating : 8 out of 10

This 6 track EP, really blends a 70’s era feel, with a more contemporary sound and it works very well. Opening with “Call Your Bluff”, I was at once reminded of the 70’s glam band Sweet, but this has a slightly harder edge. It certainly has that real fresh, driving sound that propels the song from 0-60 in a matter of seconds. “Gimme Substance” continues the theme, and I keep detecting a hint of something more 90’s.

I have to admit I’d pretty much zoned out when “Hey, George Bailey” came on, not because it was a boring song, but I was just sort of daydreaming. However when the end of the song came and I heard the line “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings”, my ears pricked up and I looked at the CD for the name of the song. As soon as I saw the name, I couldn’t help but smile and play the song again. “It’s a Wonderful Life” has to be one of my favorite movies of all time, and essentially family watching in our household at Christmas, and it’s that film, the songs draws it’s theme from, George Bailey being the lead character.

“Clean” slows things down a bit, and takes the EP into the last half very nicely. Again I get that 90’s hair band kind of vibe, but there’s that little something more. “One More Night” takes a totally different direction and again livens the EP up. “Anthem for a Late Bloomer” rounds the EP off nicely, with some wonderful guitar work, lazy and laid back, wonderful stuff. In fact I have to say it’s probably one of my favorite tracks on the album, along with “Hey, George Bailey”.

Conclusion : A real blast of fresh air and a very interesting first release. Although other influences bubble to the surface, this is a band that still manages to have it’s own identity and one that is going to be very interesting with new releases to come.